New special school for North Cork
Capacity is also being expanded at two other special schools in Cork. The East Cork Community Special School in Carrigtwohill will have an extra 24 places for the coming school year, using accommodation at Fota Business Park. Rochestown Community Special School will have 18 extra places. The scope of works has been completed there and a contractor has commenced on site.
Education Minister Helen McEntee and Minister for Special Education and Youth Michael Moynihan brought a memo to Cabinet this week announcing 407 additional special classes in schools across the country for the coming school year, including 56 across Cork.
Special schools support students with more severe and/or complex special educational needs in cases where a full-time mainstream placement would not be in the student's best interest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Local workers who have links to an area to be prioritised for cost rental units
TEACHERS, NURSES AND other key workers will have housing reserved for them in cost-rental developments to alleviate staff shortages in schools and hospitals. The Department of Housing is currently exploring 'options for the targeting of certain cost rental units for key local workers', Education Minister Helen McEntee confirmed. In response to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne, who questioned the minister about how the government plans to address housing-related issues when it comes to retaining key workers, such as teachers, the minister said that since early July, regulations were put in place around 'allocation plans' for cost rental homes. 'Allocation plans' Under the changes, there is now a new option to prioritise local workers who have a link to an area though residence, place of employment, or children's education. 'This will support people to live and work in their local area,' said McEntee. Advertisement Hearne told The Journal that there is a 'clear need for affordable housing for key workers', stating that aside from rental options, houses that are affordable for key workers must also be made available. 'The Government must commit to ensure that there is both cost rental and affordable purchase housing available for key workers such as nurses,' he said. 'Currently the lack of affordable housing for key workers from health to education to transport is impacting on the ability of the state to deliver key public services,' said Hearne. The government must seriously engage with the idea of ensuring key workers have access to affordable homes, he said. The minister said in the autumn, there will be opportunities 'to build on amendments made in last year's Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act', which included new provisions related to the cost rental sector which are intended to improve access for certain cohorts, including those who may be categorised as key workers. The idea, was first floated by former Education Minister Norma Foley, in January of this year. Cost rental homes are aimed at people on middle incomes who may have difficulty paying the rent in private rented accommodation, but who don't meet the income criteria for social housing support. The eligibility for the units includes income thresholds. Related Reads Doubling Renters' Tax Credit will cost €160m - but it is a pre-election pledge by Micheál Martin Here's how much the government says tiny apartments will shave off the cost of construction €450m Exchequer boost to provide 3,000 cost rental, affordable and social homes The State-subsidised model gives long-term tenures at rents approximately 25% below local rates. However there have been criticisms that the rents under the model remain too expensive for many people. The education minister said the government is 'acutely aware' of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. She said the government recognises the need for additional cost rental homes, and the 'need to ensure key local workers can avail of these homes, including teachers, particularly in areas of high housing demand'. Other changes under consideration include provision for multiple-occupancy, which will mean friends and work colleagues can come together to access cost rental homes. The Department of Housing is understood to be currently developing the required legal and policy framework for these changes. The Government's new housing plan is due to be published in the new Dáil term. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Cork North-West TD and Minister Michael Moynihan vastly outspent rivals in General Election campaign
Unsuccesful Aontú candidate Becky Kealy was the second biggest spender as she sought to challenge the Civil War parties Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Michael Moynihan was the candidate who spent most in an effort to be elected to Cork North-West in General Election 2024. Minister Moynihan spent close to €23,000 in advance of getting elected to the constituency for a seventh consecutive time last November. Related topics Jack Joy
The Journal
5 days ago
- The Journal
Locals unhappy as council approves lithium battery farm in scenic Co Cork town
LOCALS IN NEWMARKET have decried Cork County Council's approval of a lithium battery farm in the 'heart' of the rural town. An environmental group in the town has condemned the council's decision, saying that the facility is 'completely unsuitable' for the environment in the location where it has been given permission to build. A lithium battery farm is a facility where large capacity lithium-ion batteries can store and manage electricity. The development is described as a 'ten-year planning permission and a 35-year operational life for an energy storage facility', with the facility comprising 'energy storage containers installed on concrete plinths; electrical inverters and transformers; underground electrical and communications cabling, alongside security measures such as gates and cameras.' The development has been proposed by Neoen Renewables Ireland Limited, the Irish branch of a French renewable energy group. It first lodged a planning application in 2023, and won an appeal last week to proceed with the development. The Newmarket Environmental Protection Group, which is against the development, said that the facility will impact the local environment and farming life. It added that the site where the facility has been approved to be developed is featured in Alice Taylor's memoir To School Through the Fields, believed to be the best-selling book ever published in Ireland . The site sits above the town, beside a 1,000-year-old graveyard, and a few hundred metres away from the Dalua river, a designated Blue Flag river. The original application was met with fierce opposition locally. Numerous letters against the development were submitted to the council, including by now-Minister of State Michael Moynihan, and a number of local representatives. Advertisement One letter written by a local man who said he lives 1.8 km away from the site highlighted the environmental impacts of such facilities, and continued: 'We just have to wait in hope that this particular facility behaves itself, and carry on regardless while others reap the rewards… Surely there has to be some common sense left in the planning department.' The end of a letter written to the council against the development of the facility. Spokesperson for the local group leading condemnation of the approval of the facility, Maura Cronin O'Connor, said that the facility is 'completely out of place in a rural, residential, and agricultural setting like this'. Then local councillor, now TD for the area John Paul O'Shea opposed the development in a written observation alongside fellow councillor Trish Murphy last August. Last week, he told The Journal he still supports the main objective of the Newmarket Environmental Protection Group. 'We're disappointed that it has been granted, because I suppose there were additional concerns there from the community, and I don't think they're addressed by the company,' he said. O'Shea added that he would be supportive of the local group's efforts to face down the development. 'We're not against renewable energy,' he said, 'it's just the location where this was proposed.' He stressed the site's proximity to local housing and amenities. The Newmarket Environmental Protection group said that the site is also near a primary school, a health centre, and a nursing home. There is narrow rural access to these local facilities, it said, and stated that locals fear emergency services may not be able to reach the site quickly if a fire or chemical incident occurred. Cronin O'Connor said that the group would not be giving up. A public meeting will be held next Tuesday at 8pm in the Cultúrlann, Newmarket, in Co Cork to update the community and organise next steps, she said. She added that this is not against the use of renewable energy, but that this is the 'wrong project in the wrong place'. The PR firm representing Neoen Ireland told The Journal that they had asked the company if it would like to comment on the opposition to the development. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
